Communication terminal, portable terminal, circulating server, providing server, electronic book distributing method, and eletronic book distributing program

ABSTRACT

A portable terminal according to the present invention is provided with an electronic book coupon storage, a book data receiver, an electronic book coupon deductor, and a book data decryptor. The electronic book coupon storage stores an electronic book coupon used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of page data units, along with a decryption key used in decryption of the plurality of page data units. The book data receiver receives the book data from an electronic book providing server. The electronic book coupon deductor deducts an electronic worth equivalent to a price according to page data requested to be read out, from the electronic book coupon. The book data decryptor decrypts the page data in steps of one page data unit by use of the decryption key in conjunction with the deduction of the electronic worth.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/441,162filed on May 20, 2003, which claims priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2002-145037 filed on May 20, 2002 and Japanese PatentApplication No. 2002-145045 filed on May 20, 2002. The contents of eachof these documents are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication terminal, a portableterminal, a circulating server, a providing server, an electronic bookdistributing method, and an electronic book distributing program.

2. Related Background Art

In recent years, electronic books (also called e-books (trademark)),which are superior in portability and searchability to books of papermedia and which can contain records of sound, are in practical use. Theelectronic books are digitized books which can be purchased and read byuse of such terminals as personal computers and PDAs (Personal DigitalAssistances). The electronic books are roughly classified into two typesdepending upon provided forms, a package type in which book data isstored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, an FD, or the like, and anetwork type in which book data is transmitted and received throughnetworks such as the Internet.

Particularly, the following operation form is the mainstream about theelectronic books of the network type. Namely, a user of a portableterminal purchases an electronic book coupon from a circulating servermanaged by an issuer of the book coupon. Then the user uses theelectronic book coupon thus purchased to download a desired electronicbook from a providing server managed by a publisher of the electronicbook, into the portable terminal. The portable terminal displays theelectronic book thus downloaded, whereby the user can read it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the above prior art, however, the electronic books were distributedin book units (volume units), and it was easy to collect royalties andsales fees according to the number of volumes sold; on the other handthere was the problem as described below. Namely, the users were notallowed to download and read the electronic books in desired componentunits (page units, chapter units, etc.). For example, there are caseswhere a user downloads all pages of an electronic book before readingbut discontinues the reading in midstream. In such cases, the user ischarged even for pages that have not been read yet, so as to waste theelectronic book coupon.

In view of the above problem, an object of the present invention istherefore to provide a communication terminal, a portable terminal, acirculating server, a providing server, an electronic book distributingmethod, and an electronic book distributing program permittingacquisition of an electronic book in component units and therebyachieving improved convenience in use of the electronic book.

In order to solve the above problem, a communication terminal accordingto the present invention is a communication terminal comprising:electronic value storing means for storing an electronic value used inacquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units,along with a decryption key used in decryption of the plurality ofcomponent data units; book data receiving means for receiving the bookdata from a providing server; deducting means for, in accordance with areadout request for readout of component data in the book data receivedby the book data receiving means, deducting an electronic worthequivalent to a price according to the component data requested to beread out, in steps of an electronic worth equivalent to a price of onecomponent data unit (atomically) from the electronic value; andcomponent data decrypting means for decrypting the component data insteps of one component data unit (atomically) by use of the decryptionkey in conjunction with the deduction of the electronic worth equivalentto the price according to the component data by the deducting means.

Here, the communication terminal is enough to be an informationapparatus which has the communication function, such as a desktoppersonal computer, a notebook personal computer, PDA, a portabletelephone, etc.

In the case that the communication terminal is one (portable terminal)that can be carried for example, a portable terminal according to thepresent invention is a portable terminal comprising: electronic valuestoring means for storing an electronic value used in acquisition ofbook data containing a plurality of component data units, along with adecryption key used in decryption of the plurality of component dataunits; book data receiving means for receiving the book data from aproviding server; deducting means for, in accordance with a readoutrequest for readout of component data in the book data received by thebook data receiving means, deducting an electronic worth equivalent to aprice according to the component data requested to be read out, in stepsof an electronic worth equivalent to a price of one component data unit(atomically) from the electronic value; and component data decryptingmeans for decrypting the component data in steps of one component dataunit (atomically) by use of the decryption key in conjunction with thededuction of the electronic worth equivalent to the price according tothe component data by the deducting means.

An electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is an electronic book distributing method for a portableterminal to handle information, the electronic book distributing methodcomprising: an electronic value storing step of storing in storing meansan electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing aplurality of component data units, along with a decryption key used indecryption of the plurality of component data units; a book datareceiving step of receiving the book data from a providing server; adeducting step of, in accordance with a readout request for readout ofcomponent data in the book data received in the book data receivingstep, deducting an electronic worth equivalent to a price according tothe component data requested to be read out, in steps of an electronicworth equivalent to a price of one component data unit from theelectronic value; and a component data decrypting step of decrypting thecomponent data in steps of one component data unit by use of thedecryption key in conjunction with the deduction of the electronic worthequivalent to the price according to the component data in the deductingstep.

An electronic book distributing program according to the presentinvention is an electronic book distributing program for letting aportable terminal execute the following processes: an electronic valuestoring process of storing in storing means an electronic value used inacquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units,along with a decryption key used in decryption of the plurality ofcomponent data units; a book data receiving process of receiving thebook data from a providing server; a deducting process of, in accordancewith a readout request for readout of component data in the book datareceived by the book data receiving process, deducting an electronicworth equivalent to a price according to the component data requested tobe read out, in steps of an electronic worth equivalent to a price ofone component data unit from the electronic value; and a component datadecrypting process of decrypting the component data in steps of onecomponent data unit by use of the decryption key in conjunction with thededuction of the electronic worth equivalent to the price according tothe component data by the deducting process.

According to these aspects of the invention, the deduction process iscarried out in steps of one component data unit for the book data; i.e.,billing is carried out atomically. For this reason, the providing servercan provide the electronic book in component units to the portableterminal. Therefore, the user of the portable terminal can purchase andread only desired component units (pages or chapters). It is alsofeasible to avoid the billing of fees even for component data units thatthe user does not desire to purchase and read in the book data acquiredand, thereby, to reduce the waste of the electronic value. As a result,the convenience is enhanced in use of the electronic book.

Furthermore, the book data is encrypted in component data units beingthe components thereof and, in order to decrypt each component dataunit, an electronic worth equivalent to a price according to eachdecrypted component data unit is automatically deducted from theelectronic value. For this reason, billing takes place inevitably on theoccasion of decryption and display of each component data unit, so thatit is feasible to prevent unauthorized copy and unreasonable billing ofcomponent data.

The communication terminal according to the present invention ispreferably constructed in a configuration further comprising electronicvalue receiving means for receiving the electronic value along with thedecryption key from a circulating server, wherein the electronic valuestoring means stores the electronic value and the decryption keyreceived by the electronic value receiving means.

The portable terminal according to the present invention is preferablyconstructed in a configuration further comprising electronic valuereceiving means for receiving the electronic value along with thedecryption key from a circulating server, wherein the electronic valuestoring means stores the electronic value and the decryption keyreceived by the electronic value receiving means.

The circulating server according to the present invention compriseselectronic value storing means for storing an electronic value alongwith a decryption key; and electronic value transmitting means fortransmitting the electronic value along with the decryption key to thecommunication terminal described above.

The circulating server according to the present invention compriseselectronic value storing means for storing an electronic value alongwith a decryption key; and electronic value transmitting means fortransmitting the electronic value along with the decryption key to theportable terminal described above.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is preferably configured as a method further comprising anelectronic value receiving step of receiving the electronic value alongwith the decryption key from a circulating server, wherein theelectronic value storing step is configured to store in the storingmeans the electronic value and the decryption key received in theelectronic value receiving step.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is preferably an electronic book distributing method for acirculating server to handle information, the method comprising anelectronic value transmitting step of transmitting the electronic valuealong with the decryption key to the aforementioned portable terminal.

According to these aspects of the invention, the portable terminalreceives the electronic value transmitted from the circulating server.Accordingly, the user of the portable terminal can easily and quicklyacquire the electronic value through a network.

Furthermore, in the portable terminal according to the presentinvention, preferably, the book data receiving means receives the bookdata in steps of one component data unit from the providing server.

Furthermore, in the providing server according to the present invention,preferably, the book data transmitting means transmits the book data insteps of one component data unit to the portable terminal.

Furthermore, in the electronic book distributing method according to thepresent invention, preferably, the book data transmitting step isconfigured so that the proving server transmits the book data in stepsof one component data unit to the portable terminal.

According to these aspects of the invention, the book data transmittedfrom the providing server to the portable terminal is not received theentire volume at a time, but is received in the form of divided data incomponent units. The portable terminals have the smaller capacity ofavailable radio resources and the smaller volume of data processable orstorable at a time than such terminal equipment as personal computers.For this reason, the bulk download of large-volume data like the bookdata of full volume is not practical in view of the communication loadon mobile communication networks and the processing power of theportable terminals. Therefore, the appropriate segmentation of thereceived book data can implement reduction of the communication load andreception of data in volume suitable for the processing power.

The portable terminal according to the present invention is morepreferably constructed in a configuration further comprising billinformation transmitting means for transmitting information forspecifying the component data and the price, as bill information to thecirculating server.

The circulating server according to the present invention is preferablya circulating server comprising: bill information receiving means forreceiving the bill information from the portable terminal as set forth;and bill information storing means for storing the bill informationreceived by the bill information receiving means, in correspondence toidentification information of the portable terminal.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably configured as a method further comprising abill information transmitting step of transmitting information forspecifying the component data and the price, as bill information to thecirculating server.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably an electronic book distributing method fora circulating server to handle information, the electronic bookdistributing method comprising: a bill information receiving step ofreceiving the bill information from the portable terminal as set forth;and a bill information storing step of storing in storing means the billinformation received in the bill information receiving step, incorrespondence to identification information of the portable terminal.

According to these aspects of the invention, the bill information istransmitted from the portable terminal to the circulating server. Thebill information is information including at least information forspecifying the decrypted component data and information for specifyingthe price deducted from the electronic value prior to the decryption ofthe component data. Accordingly, the portable terminal can readilynotify the circulating server of the information necessary for adequateallocation of a profit made with distribution of the electronic book. Asa result, the circulating server can adequately allocate the profit to adistributor, a publisher, an author, etc. of the electronic book on thebasis of the foregoing information.

The circulating server according to the present invention is morepreferably a circulating server comprising: bill information receivingmeans for receiving the bill information from the portable terminal asset forth; collection information storing means for storing a collectedbill payment for each mentioned book data in correspondence to the billinformation received by the bill information receiving means, ascollection information; and profit allocating means for allocating thecollected bill payment at a predetermined ratio on the basis of thecollection information stored in the collection information storingmeans.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably an electronic book distributing method fora circulating server to handle information, the electronic bookdistributing method comprising: a bill information receiving step ofreceiving the bill information from the portable terminal asset forth; acollection information storing step of storing in storing means acollected bill payment for each mentioned book data in correspondence tothe bill information received in the bill information receiving step, ascollection information; and a profit allocating step of allocating thecollected bill payment at a predetermined ratio on the basis of thecollection information stored in the collection information storingstep.

According to these aspects of the invention, the allocation of thecollected bill payment is carried out at least on the basis of thecollection information of the correspondence between the billinformation transmitted from the portable terminal to the circulatingserver and the collected bill payment for each book data. Since thecollected bill payment is counted for each book data, it is easy tocalculate the profit to be paid out to the administrator of thecirculating server and to the author and provider of the book data(electronic book) and to specify allocation receivers. The management ofcollected bill payment for each book data is particularly effective inthe case where there is a number of book data to be distributed andwhere authors and publishers are different among the book data. Thismakes it feasible to readily and quickly perform appropriate profitallocation with distribution of book data.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, preferably,the bill information transmitting means transmits the bill informationto the circulating server in conjunction with a charge request forcharging of the electronic value to the circulating server.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, preferably, the bill information transmitting step isconfigured to transmit the bill information to the circulating server inconjunction with a charge request for charging of the electronic valueto the circulating server.

According to these aspects of the invention, the bill information istransmitted from the portable terminal to the circulating server inconjunction with the charge request for charging of the electronic valueto the circulating server. This makes it feasible to surely andcollectively perform the profit allocation according to the electronicworth used between acquisition and charging of the electronic value.

The portable terminal according to the present invention is morepreferably constructed in a configuration further comprising chargeinformation receiving means for receiving charge information forcharging of the electronic value from the circulating server, whereinthe electronic value is charged based on the charge information receivedby the charge information receiving means.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably configured as a method further comprising acharge information receiving step of receiving charge information forcharging of the electronic value from the circulating server, whereinthe electronic value is charged based on the charge information receivedin the charge information receiving step.

According to these aspects of the invention, the charge informationtransmitted from the circulating server is received by the portableterminal. The electronic value is charged based on the received chargeinformation. Accordingly, the user of the portable terminal can readilyand quickly replenish the electronic value through the network when theremainder of the electronic value becomes small, and then the user canpurchase a desired electronic book.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, morepreferably, the component data units are page data units.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, more preferably, the component data units are page dataunits.

According to these aspects of the invention, the deduction process,i.e., billing is performed in page data units for the book data. Forthis reason, the providing server can provide the electronic book inpage units. Therefore, the user of the portable terminal can purchaseand read only desired pages. Namely, the user of the portable terminalis allowed to finely select desired portions to be purchased and read,out of the book data. The user is not charged for page data that theuser does not desire to purchase and read in the acquired book data, soas to reduce the waste of the electronic value. As a result, theconvenience is enhanced more in use of the electronic book.

In the circulating server according to the present invention, morepreferably, the electronic value is an electronic book coupon.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, more preferably, the electronic value is an electronic bookcoupon. The electronic value may be electronic money, or an electronicticket as an electronic data form of a commuter pass, a ticket, or thelike.

When the user of the portable terminal purchases an electronic book, theelectronic book is intended as an object for purchase, as a matter ofcourse, and it is often the case that the user uses an electronic bookcoupon with less concern about unauthorized use than the electronicmoney. When the circulating server circulates such electronic bookcoupons, it is feasible to promote the sale of electronic books moresafely and efficiently.

The providing server according to the present invention comprises bookdata transmitting means for transmitting the book data to theaforementioned communication terminal.

The providing server according to the present invention comprises bookdata transmitting means for transmitting the book data to theaforementioned portable terminal.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is preferably an electronic book distributing method for aproviding server to handle information, the method comprising a bookdata transmitting step of transmitting the book data to theaforementioned portable terminal.

The providing server according to the present invention is preferablyconstructed in a configuration further comprising book data encryptingmeans for encrypting the plurality of component data units in the bookdata, in steps of one component data unit.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is preferably configured as a method further comprising a bookdata encrypting step of encrypting the plurality of component data unitsin the book data, in steps of one component data unit.

According to these aspects of the invention, the book data transmittedto the portable terminal is encrypted in steps of one component dataunit. Accordingly, it is feasible to ensure high security indistribution of book data and implement billing in component units forthe electronic book.

The portable terminal according to the present invention is morepreferably constructed in a configuration wherein the decryption key isused in decryption of a decryption key for decryption of the pluralityof component data units, and wherein, in conjunction with the deductionof the electronic worth according to the component data by the deductingmeans, the component data decrypting means decrypts the decryption keyfor decryption of the component data units in steps of one componentdata unit by use of the decryption key and decrypts the component datain steps of one component data unit.

The providing server according to the present invention is morepreferably constructed in a configuration further comprising decryptionkey encrypting means for encrypting a plurality of decryption keys fordecryption of the plurality of component data units in the book data.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably configured as a method wherein thedecryption key is used in decryption of a decryption key for decryptionof the plurality of component data units, and wherein the component dataunit decrypting step is configured to, in conjunction with the deductionof the electronic worth according to the component data in the deductingstep, decrypt the decryption key for decryption of the component dataunits in steps of one component data unit by use of the decryption keyand decrypt the component data in steps of one component data unit.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably configured as a method further comprising adecryption key encrypting step of encrypting a plurality of decryptionkeys for decryption of the plurality of component data units in the bookdata.

According to these aspects of the invention, the book data is encryptedin component data units being components of the data and, for decryptionof each component data unit, the electronic worth equivalent to theprice according to the decrypted component data unit is automaticallydeducted from the electronic value. For this reason, billing takes placeinevitably for the decryption and display of each component data unitand it is thus feasible to prevent unauthorized copy and unreasonablebilling of component data.

It is a matter of course that the plurality of component data unitsconstituting the book data are encrypted, and a plurality of decryptionkeys for decryption of the plurality of encrypted component data unitsare also encrypted each by an encryption key. Namely, the component dataunits transmitted and received between the providing server and theportable terminal are doubly encrypted. Accordingly, the security levelfor the book data is raised more.

Preferably, the electronic value storing means of the portable terminalaccording to the present invention is comprised of a tamper-resistantdevice, and the component data decrypting means decrypts the componentdata units in steps of one component data unit inside the electronicvalue storing means.

According to the present invention, the plurality of component dataunits, i.e., the book data is decrypted in steps of one component dataunit inside the tamper-resistant device, using the decryption key storedin the tamper-resistant device. Accordingly, higher security can beensured than in the case where the data is decrypted inside applicationsoftware such as dedicated browser software or inside hardware equippedwith an IC card reader.

Preferably, the electronic value storing means of the circulating serveraccording to the present invention is comprised of a tamper-resistantdevice, and the electronic value is transmitted and received between theelectronic value storing means and the electronic value storing means ofthe portable terminal according to the present invention, in conformityto a protocol defined between the circulating server and the portableterminal.

According to the present invention, the electronic value is transmittedand received between the electronic value storing means of thecirculating server and the electronic value storing means of theportable terminal in conformity to the protocol defined between thecirculating server and the portable terminal, and is thus always presentonly within these storage means. The storage means both aretamper-resistant devices, and it is thus feasible to prevent injusticessuch as leakage, falsification, etc. of the data in the electronic valueby a third person. As a result, it is feasible to ensure highconfidentiality and reliability of the electronic value.

The invention may also be applied to construction and operation of anelectronic book distributing system comprising the foregoing portableterminal, the foregoing circulating server, and the foregoing providingserver and configured to implement communication between the portableterminal and the circulating server and communication between theportable terminal and the providing server.

In the construction and operation of the electronic book distributingsystem, preferably, the system is comprised of the foregoing portableterminal and the foregoing providing server, and the decryption keystored in the electronic value storing means of the portable terminal isdifferent from the encryption key used in encryption by the book dataencrypting means of the providing server.

According to the present invention, the key used in encryption of thebook data is different from the key used in decryption of the book data.Namely, the public-key cryptographic scheme is adopted for theencryption and decryption of the book data. The public-key cryptographicscheme has lower degree of necessity for transmitting keys through asafe route and ensures easier management of keys with higher securitythan the private (common)-key cryptographic scheme. Accordingly, highersecurity can be ensured about the book data.

In order to solve the above problem, a communication terminal accordingto the present invention is a communication terminal comprising:electronic value storing means for storing an electronic value used inacquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units,along with a second decryption key used in decryption of a plurality offirst decryption keys which are used in decryption of the plurality ofcomponent data units and which are different from each other; book datareceiving means for receiving the book data along with the plurality offirst decryption keys from a providing server; deducting means for, inaccordance with a readout request for readout of component data in thebook data received by the book data receiving means, deducting anelectronic worth equivalent to a price according to the component datarequested to be read out, in steps of an electronic worth equivalent toa price of one component data unit (atomically) from the electronicvalue; and first decryption key decrypting means for decrypting theplurality of first decryption keys in steps of one first decryption keyby use of the second decryption key in conjunction with the deduction ofthe electronic worth equivalent to the price according to the componentdata by the deducting means.

Here, the communication terminal is enough to be an informationapparatus which has the communication function, such as a desktoppersonal computer, a notebook personal computer, PDA, a portabletelephone, etc.

In the case that the communication terminal is one (portable terminal)that can be carried for example, a portable terminal according to thepresent invention is a portable terminal comprising: electronic valuestoring means for storing an electronic value used in acquisition ofbook data containing a plurality of component data units, along with asecond decryption key used in decryption of a plurality of firstdecryption keys which are used in decryption of the plurality ofcomponent data units and which are different from each other; book datareceiving means for receiving the book data along with the plurality offirst decryption keys from a providing server; deducting means for, inaccordance with a readout request for readout of component data in thebook data received by the book data receiving means, deducting anelectronic worth equivalent to a price according to the component datarequested to be read out, in steps of an electronic worth equivalent toa price of one component data unit (atomically) from the electronicvalue; and first decryption key decrypting means for decrypting theplurality of first decryption keys in steps of one first decryption keyby use of the second decryption key in conjunction with the deduction ofthe electronic worth equivalent to the price according to the componentdata by the deducting means.

A providing server according to the present invention is a providingserver comprising: first decryption key encrypting means for encryptinga plurality of first decryption keys which are used in decryption of aplurality of component data units included in book data and which aredifferent from each other, in steps of one first decryption key; andbook data transmitting means for transmitting the book data along withthe plurality of first decryption keys encrypted by the first decryptionkey encrypting means, to the communication terminal as set forth.

A providing server according to the present invention is a providingserver comprising: first decryption key encrypting means for encryptinga plurality of first decryption keys which are used in decryption of aplurality of component data units included in book data and which aredifferent from each other, in steps of one first decryption key; andbook data transmitting means for transmitting the book data along withthe plurality of first decryption keys encrypted by the first decryptionkey encrypting means, to the portable terminal as set forth.

An electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is an electronic book distributing method for a portableterminal to handle information, the electronic book distributing methodcomprising: an electronic value storing step of storing in storing meansan electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing aplurality of component data units, along with a second decryption keyused in decryption of a plurality of first decryption keys which areused in decryption of the plurality of component data units and whichare different from each other; a book data receiving step of receivingthe book data along with the plurality of first decryption keys from aproviding server; a deducting step of, in accordance with a readoutrequest for readout of component data in the book data received in thebook data receiving step, deducting an electronic worth equivalent to aprice according to the component data requested to be read out, in stepsof an electronic worth equivalent to a price of one component data unitfrom the electronic value; and a first decryption key decrypting step ofdecrypting the plurality of first decryption keys in steps of one firstdecryption key by use of the second decryption key in conjunction withthe deduction of the electronic worth equivalent to the price accordingto the component data in the deducting step.

Another electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is an electronic book distributing method for a providingserver to handle information, the electronic book distributing methodcomprising: a first decryption key encrypting step of encrypting aplurality of first decryption keys which are used in decryption of aplurality of component data units included in book data and which aredifferent from each other, in steps of one first decryption key; and abook data transmitting step of transmitting the book data along with theplurality of first decryption keys encrypted in the first decryption keyencrypting step, to the portable terminal as set forth.

An electronic book distributing program according to the presentinvention is an electronic book distributing program for letting aportable terminal execute the following processes: an electronic valuestoring process of storing in storing means an electronic value used inacquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units,along with a second decryption key used in decryption of a plurality offirst decryption keys which are used in decryption of the plurality ofcomponent data units and which are different from each other; a bookdata receiving process of receiving the book data along with theplurality of first decryption keys from a providing server; a deductingprocess of, in accordance with a readout request for readout ofcomponent data in the book data received by the book data receivingprocess, deducting an electronic worth equivalent to a price accordingto the component data requested to be read out, in steps of anelectronic worth equivalent to a price of one component data unit, fromthe electronic value; and a first decryption key decrypting process ofdecrypting the plurality of first decryption keys in steps of one firstdecryption key by use of the second decryption key in conjunction withthe deduction of the electronic worth equivalent to the price accordingto the component data by the deducting process.

According to these aspects of the invention, the deduction process iscarried out in steps of one component data unit for the book data; i.e.,billing is carried out atomically. For this reason, the providing servercan provide the electronic book in component units to the portableterminal. Therefore, the user of the portable terminal can purchase andread only desired component units (pages or chapters). It is alsofeasible to avoid the billing of fees even for component data units thatthe user does not desire to purchase and read in the book data acquiredand, thereby, to reduce the waste of the electronic value. As a result,the convenience is enhanced in use of the electronic book.

The book data is encrypted in component data units being the componentsthereof, and the plurality of first decryption keys for decryption ofthe respective component data units are further encrypted one by one.For decryption of each component data unit, an electronic worthequivalent to a price according to the first decryption key to bedecrypted is automatically deducted from the electronic value. For thisreason, billing takes place inevitably at the time of decryption anddisplay of each component data and it is thus feasible to preventunauthorized copy and unreasonable billing of component data.

It is also a matter of course that the plurality of component data unitsconstituting the book data are encrypted, and the plurality of firstdecryption keys for decryption of the plurality of encrypted componentdata units are also encrypted every first decryption key by anencryption key. Namely, the component data units transmitted andreceived between the providing server and the portable terminal aredoubly encrypted. Furthermore, the plurality of first decryption keysare keys different from each other. Accordingly, the security levelabout the book data is raised more.

For example, a complex and strong algorithm resistant to cryptanalysisis used as an algorithm for encryption or decryption of the firstdecryption keys, while a simple and easy algorithm relatively easilypermitting cryptanalysis is used as an algorithm for encryption ordecryption of the component data units. The use of plural encryptionalgorithms different from each other in this way enables a variety ofencryption ways according to combinations thereof. As a consequence, itbecomes feasible to implement encryption according to conditions such asrequired performance, security level, etc. and to enhance flexibility ofencryption ways.

The communication terminal according to the present invention ispreferably constructed in a configuration further comprising electronicvalue receiving means for receiving the electronic value along with thesecond decryption key from a circulating server, wherein the electronicvalue storing means stores the electronic value and the seconddecryption key received by the electronic value receiving means.

The portable terminal according to the present invention is preferablyconstructed in a configuration further comprising electronic valuereceiving means for receiving the electronic value along with the seconddecryption key from a circulating server, wherein the electronic valuestoring means stores the electronic value and the second decryption keyreceived by the electronic value receiving means.

A circulating server according to the present invention is a circulatingserver comprising: electronic value storing means for storing anelectronic value along with a second decryption key; and electronicvalue transmitting means for transmitting the electronic value alongwith the second decryption key to the communication terminal as setforth.

A circulating server according to the present invention is a circulatingserver comprising: electronic value storing means for storing anelectronic value along with a second decryption key; and electronicvalue transmitting means for transmitting the electronic value alongwith the second decryption key to the portable terminal as set forth.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is preferably configured as a method further comprising anelectronic value receiving step of receiving the electronic value alongwith the second decryption key from a circulating server, wherein theelectronic value storing step is configured to store in the storingmeans the electronic value and the second decryption key received in theelectronic value receiving step.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is preferably an electronic book distributing method for acirculating server to handle information, the method comprising anelectronic value transmitting step of transmitting the electronic valuealong with the second decryption key to the aforementioned portableterminal.

According to these aspects of the invention, the portable terminalreceives the electronic value transmitted from the circulating server.Accordingly, the user of the portable terminal can easily and quicklyacquire the electronic value through a network.

Furthermore, in the portable terminal according to the presentinvention, preferably, the book data receiving means receives the bookdata in steps of one component data unit from the providing server.

Furthermore, in the providing server according to the present invention,preferably, the book data transmitting means transmits the book data insteps of one component data unit to the portable terminal.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, preferably, the book data receiving step is configured sothat the portable terminal receives the book data in steps of onecomponent data unit from the providing server.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, preferably, the book data transmitting step is configured sothat the proving server transmits the book data in steps of onecomponent data unit to the portable terminal.

According to these aspects of the invention, the book data transmittedfrom the providing server to the portable terminal is not received theentire volume at a time, but is received in the form of divided data incomponent units. The portable terminals have the smaller capacity ofavailable radio resources and the smaller volume of data processable orstorable at a time than such terminal equipment as personal computers.For this reason, the bulk download of large-volume data like the bookdata of full volume is not practical in view of the communication loadon mobile communication networks and the processing power of theportable terminals in some cases. Therefore, the appropriatesegmentation of the received book data can implement reduction of thecommunication load and transmission reception of data in the volumesuitable for the processing power.

The portable terminal according to the present invention is morepreferably constructed in a configuration further comprising billinformation transmitting means for transmitting information forspecifying the component data and the price, as bill information to thecirculating server.

The circulating server according to the present invention is preferablya circulating server comprising: bill information receiving means forreceiving the bill information from the portable terminal as set forth;and bill information storing means for storing the bill informationreceived by the bill information receiving means, in correspondence toidentification information of the portable terminal.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably configured as a method further comprising abill information transmitting step wherein the portable terminaltransmits information for specifying the component data and the price,as bill information to the circulating server.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably an electronic book distributing method fora circulating server to handle information, the electronic bookdistributing method comprising: a bill information receiving step ofreceiving the bill information from the portable terminal as set forth;and a bill information storing step of storing in storing means the billinformation received in the bill information receiving step, incorrespondence to identification information of the portable terminal.

According to these aspects of the invention, the bill information istransmitted from the portable terminal to the circulating server. Thebill information is information including at least information forspecifying the decrypted component data and information for specifyingthe price deducted from the electronic value prior to the decryption ofthe component data. Accordingly, the portable terminal can readilynotify the circulating server of the information necessary for adequateallocation of profit made with distribution of the electronic book. As aresult, the circulating server can adequately allocate the profit to apublisher, a sales company, an author, etc. of the electronic book onthe basis of the foregoing information.

The circulating server according to the present invention is morepreferably a circulating server comprising: bill information receivingmeans for receiving the bill information from the portable terminal asset forth; collection information storing means for storing a collectedbill payment for each mentioned book data in correspondence to the billinformation received by the bill information receiving means, ascollection information; and profit allocating means for allocating thecollected bill payment at a predetermined ratio on the basis of thecollection information stored in the collection information storingmeans.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably an electronic book distributing method fora circulating server to handle information, the electronic bookdistributing method comprising: a bill information receiving step ofreceiving the bill information from the portable terminal as set forth;a collection information storing step of storing in storing means acollected bill payment for each mentioned book data in correspondence tothe bill information received in the bill information receiving step, ascollection information; and a profit allocating step of allocating thecollected bill payment at a predetermined ratio on the basis of thecollection information stored in the collection information storingstep.

According to these aspects of the invention, the allocation of thecollected bill payment is carried out on the basis of the collectioninformation of the correspondence between the bill informationtransmitted from the portable terminal to the circulating server and thecollected bill payment for each book data. Since the collected billpayment is counted for each book data, it is easy to calculate theprofit to be paid out to the administrator of the circulating server andto the author and provider of the book data (electronic book) and tospecify allocation receivers. The management of the collected billpayment for each book data is particularly effective in the case wherethere is a number of book data to be distributed and where authors andpublishers are different among the book data. This makes it feasible toreadily and quickly perform appropriate profit allocation withdistribution of book data.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, preferably,the bill information transmitting means transmits the bill informationto the circulating server in conjunction with a charge request forcharging of the electronic value to the circulating server.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, preferably, the bill information transmitting step isconfigured so that the portable terminal transmits the bill informationto the circulating server in conjunction with a charge request forcharging of the electronic value to the circulating server.

According to these aspects of the invention, the bill information istransmitted from the portable terminal to the circulating server inconjunction with the charge request for charging of the electronic valueto the circulating server. The request for charging of electronic valuefrom the portable terminal is often made when the amount of electronicworth in the electronic value becomes small, i.e., when the electronicworth is used up by a considerable amount. Accordingly, the billinformation is transmitted from the portable terminal to the circulatingserver on such occasions, whereby the allocation of the profit accordingto the electronic worth used between acquisition and charging of theelectronic value can be performed securely and collectively. The numberof data transmission is as small as one and thus the radio resources canbe efficiently used, as compared with the case where the charge requestand the bill information item are transmitted independently of eachother.

The portable terminal according to the present invention is morepreferably constructed in a configuration further comprising chargeinformation receiving means for receiving charge information forcharging of the electronic value from the circulating server, whereinthe electronic value is charged based on the charge information receivedby the charge information receiving means.

The electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention is more preferably configured as a method further comprising acharge information receiving step wherein the portable terminal receivesthe charge information for charging of the electronic value from thecirculating server, wherein the electronic value is charged based on thecharge information received in the charge information receiving step.

According to these aspects of the invention, the charge informationtransmitted from the circulating server is received by the portableterminal, and the electronic value is charged based on the receivedcharge information. Accordingly, the user of the portable terminal canreplenish the electronic value through the network when the remainder ofthe electronic value becomes small, and then the user can readily andquickly purchase a desired electronic book.

In the portable terminal according to the present invention, morepreferably, the component data units are page data units.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, more preferably, the component data units are page dataunits.

According to these aspects of the invention, the deduction process,i.e., billing is performed in page data units for the book data. Forthis reason, the providing server can provide the electronic book inpage units. Therefore, the user of the portable terminal can purchaseand read only desired pages. Namely, the user of the portable terminalis allowed to finely select desired portions to be purchased and read,out of the book data. The user is not charged for page data that theuser does not desire to purchase and read in the acquired book data, soas to reduce the waste of the electronic value. As a result, theconvenience is enhanced more in use of the electronic book.

In the circulating server according to the present invention, morepreferably, the electronic value is an electronic book coupon.

In the electronic book distributing method according to the presentinvention, more preferably, the electronic value is an electronic bookcoupon. The electronic value may be electronic money, or an electronicticket as an electronic data form of an admission ticket, a trafficticket, and so on.

When the user of the portable terminal purchases an electronic book, theelectronic book is intended as an object for purchase and it is oftenthe case that the user uses an electronic book coupon with less concernabout unauthorized use than the electronic money. When the circulatingserver circulates such electronic book coupons, it is feasible to sellthe electronic books more safely and efficiently.

Preferably, the electronic value storing means of the portable terminalaccording to the present invention is comprised of a tamper-resistantdevice, and the first decryption key decrypting means decrypts theplurality of first decryption keys in steps of one first decryption keyinside the electronic value storing means.

According to the present invention, the plurality of first decryptionkeys and the plurality of component data units or book data aredecrypted every first decryption key inside the tamper-resistant deviceby use of the second decryption key stored in the tamper-resistantdevice. Accordingly, higher security can be ensured than in the casewhere the data is decrypted inside application software such asdedicated browser software or inside hardware equipped with an IC cardreader.

Preferably, the electronic value storing means of the circulating serveraccording to the present invention is comprised of a tamper-resistantdevice, and the electronic value is transmitted and received between theelectronic value storing means of the circulating server and theelectronic value storing means of the foregoing portable terminal inconformity to a protocol defined between the circulating server and theportable terminal.

According to the present invention, the electronic value is transmittedand received between the electronic value storing means of thecirculating server and the electronic value storing means of theportable terminal in conformity to the protocol defined between thecirculating server and the portable terminal, and is thus always presentwithin these storage means. The storage means both are thetamper-resistant devices, and it is thus feasible to prevent injusticessuch as replication, falsification, etc. of the data in the electronicvalue by a third person. As a result, it is feasible to ensure highsecurity of the electronic value.

The invention may also be applied to construction and operation of anelectronic book distributing system comprising the foregoing portableterminal, the foregoing circulating server, and the foregoing providingserver and configured to implement communication between the portableterminal and the circulating server and communication between theportable terminal and the providing server.

In the construction and operation of the electronic book distributingsystem, preferably, the system is comprised of the foregoing portableterminal and the foregoing providing server, and the second decryptionkey stored in the electronic value storing means of the portableterminal is different from an encryption key used in encryption by thefirst decryption key encrypting means of the providing server.

According to the present invention, the key used in encryption of thebook data is different from the key used in decryption of the book data.Namely, the public-key cryptographic scheme is adopted for theencryption and decryption of the book data. The public-key cryptographicscheme has lower degree of necessity for transmitting keys through asafe route and ensures easier management of keys with higher securitythan the private (common)-key cryptographic scheme. Accordingly, ahigher security level can be ensured about the book data.

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not to beconsidered as limiting the present invention.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of theelectronic book distributing system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of theelectronic book coupon circulating server.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware configuration of theportable terminal.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the functional configuration ofthe electronic book distributing system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the billinformation transmitted from the portable terminal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the collectioninformation about portable terminals.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of processing executedby the electronic book distributing system in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of processing executedby the electronic book distributing system in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the functional configuration ofthe electronic book distributing system.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the billinformation transmitted from the portable terminal.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the collectioninformation about portable terminals.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of processing executedby the electronic book distributing system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

The electronic book distributing system according to the presentinvention will be described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is aschematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of theelectronic book distributing system 1 in the present embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 1, the electronic book distributing system 1 is mainlycomprised of an electronic book coupon circulating server 10(corresponding to the circulating server), a portable terminal 20(corresponding to the portable terminal), and an electronic bookproviding server 30 (corresponding to the providing server).

The portable terminal 20 is connected via a base station B and a networkN to the electronic book coupon circulating server 10, and the portableterminal 20 and the electronic book coupon circulating server 10 areable to transmit and receive data to and from each other. Likewise, theportable terminal 20 is connected via the base station B and the networkN to the electronic book providing server 30, and the portable terminal20 and the electronic book providing server 30 are able to transmit andreceive data to and from each other.

The hardware configurations of the respective terminal devicesconstituting the electronic book distributing system 1 will be describedbelow. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the electronic bookcoupon circulating server 10. The electronic book coupon circulatingserver 10 is comprised of a CPU 10 a, a memory 10 b such as a RAM(Random Access Memory), a storage device 10 c such as a hard disk, atransmission-reception device 10 d such as a communication cardconfigured to implement transmission and reception of data to and fromthe portable terminal 20, an input device 10 e such as a keyboard, amouse, etc., and a display device 10 f such as a display unit. The CPU10 a, memory 10 b, storage device 10 c, transmission-reception device 10d, input device 10 e, and display device 10 f are electrically connectedso as to be able to send and receive various signals through a bus 10 g.

The hardware configuration of the portable terminal 20 will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a hardware configurationdiagram of portable terminal 20. The portable terminal 20 is comprisedof a control unit 20 a, an input device 20 b, a RAM 20 c, a displaydevice 20 d, a memory device 20 e, a radio communication device 20 f,and a sound processing device 20 g. These devices are electricallyconnected each through a bus 20 h so as to be able to transmit andreceive various signals to and from each other.

Since the portable terminal 20 is a terminal forming the principal partof the electronic book distributing system according to the presentinvention, hardware configurations of the respective devices will bedescribed below in more detail. The control unit 20 a retrieves aprogram stored in the memory device 20 e, into the RAM 20 c and performsconcentrated control over each of the parts according to the program.Namely, the control unit 20 a executes a variety of processes includingan electronic worth reduction process from an electronic book coupon, adecryption process of book data, etc. in accordance with an input signalfrom the input device 20 b and the program retrieved into the RAM 20 cand temporarily saves the processing result in the RAM 20 c. Then thecontrol unit stores the processing result saved in the RAM 20 c, into apredetermined area inside the memory device 20 e according to need.

The input device 20 b is provided with various operation buttons toorder ON/OFF of power, selection of functions, etc., and these variousoperation buttons are depressed alone or in combination to output aninput signal according to a command to the control unit 20 a.

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 20 c is comprised of a volatilesemiconductor memory and is configured to temporarily save the programor data retrieved from the storage device 20 e described hereinafter,during the various processes executed by the control unit 20 a. The RAM20 c also has the function of VRAM (Video RAM) for temporarily savingdata to be displayed on the display device 20 d.

The display device 20 d is comprised of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),an EL (Electro Luminescence) device, or the like, and is configured todisplay display-data on a screen according to a display signal suppliedfrom the control unit 20 a.

The memory device 20 e is comprised of a nonvolatile semiconductormemory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) orthe like, and is configured to store data necessary for execution of thevarious processes, data generated as a result of execution of thevarious processes, and so on. The memory device 20 e is equipped with anIC (Integrated Circuit) card 21 e in a detachable state. The IC card 21e can store the electronic book coupon described hereinafter.

The radio communication device 20 f controls radio communication withthe base station B. Specifically, the radio communication device 20 f isa circuit having a modem (not shown) for modulating and demodulatingsignals, and a codec (not shown) for coding and decoding signals, and isequipped with an antenna A. The antenna A is retractably mounted in theupper part of a housing of the portable terminal 20 and is adapted totransmit and receive radio waves to and from the base station B.

The sound processing device 20 g is comprised of a converter, anamplifier, etc. and is equipped with a microphone M and a speaker S. Thesound processing device 20 g is configured to convert audio data fromthe control unit 20 a into analog signals by the converter (not shown)and emit sound from the speaker S through the amplifier (not shown),during calls. The sound processing device 20 g is also configured toconvert audio signals from the microphone M into digital signals by theconverter and output the digital signals to the control unit 20 a,during calls.

The hardware configuration of the electronic book providing server 30,which is also a component of the electronic book distributing system 1,is much the same as that of the electronic book coupon circulatingserver 10. Accordingly, the components of the electronic book providingserver 30 will be denoted by a like series of reference symbols as thoseof the components of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10,without the illustration and detailed description thereof. Namely, theelectronic book providing server 30 is provided with a CPU 30 a, amemory 30 b, a storage device 30 c, a transmission-reception device 30d, an input device 30 e, and a display device 30 f, and these deviceseach are electrically connected so as to be able to send and receivevarious signals through a bus 30 g.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing the functionalconfiguration of the electronic book distributing system 1 in thepresent embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic book couponcirculating server 10 has an electronic book coupon storage 11, anelectronic book coupon transmitter 12, a bill information receiver 13, acollection information DB (Data Base) 14, a charge informationtransmitter 15, and a profit allocation processor 16. The electronicbook coupon circulating server 10 is a server apparatus managed by anelectronic book coupon circulating company selling electronic bookcoupons in the prepaid system.

In order to clearly discriminate a book from pages being component unitsof the book, electronic data of the former will be referred to as “bookdata,” and electronic data of the latter as “page data.” Namely, thebook data consists of a plurality of page data units. The components ofthe book, which are individually digitized as electronic data, do notalways have to be pages, but may also be chapters, paragraphs, and soon.

The electronic book coupon storage 11 stores electronic book coupons aselectronic values. The electronic book coupon storage 11 is preferablycomprised of an IC-card-equivalent tamper-resistant device in view ofthe confidentiality, reliability, etc. of data in the electronic bookcoupons. The electronic book coupons are used for acquisition of bookdata containing a plurality of page data units as a plurality ofcomponent data units. An electronic book coupon includes a decryptionkey for decryption of a plurality of encrypted page data, and remainderinformation indicating the remainder of electronic worth. In a preferredembodiment, the electronic book coupon is provided with a digitalsignature for clearly indicating the place of origin thereof.

The electronic book coupon transmitter 12 transmits an electronic bookcoupon read out of the electronic book coupon storage 11, to theportable terminal 20 in accordance with a request from the portableterminal 20.

The bill information receiver 13 receives the bill informationtransmitted from a bill information transmitter 27 of the portableterminal 20. The bill information contains at least information forspecifying page data and a bill for decryption of the page data. Thebill information received by the bill information receiver 13 will bedescribed below in detail with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagramshowing a configuration example of the bill information 131 transmittedfrom the portable terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the bill information131 contains an electronic book ID storage area 131 a, an already-readpage storage area 131 b, and a bill storage area 131 c.

The electronic book ID storage area 131 a stores identificationinformation (e.g., “00001,” “00002,” “00004”) of electronic books whichthe portable terminal 20 acquired from the electronic book providingserver 30, as “electronic book IDs.” The electronic book IDs can be, forexample, ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) by which countries,publishers, titles, etc. can be specified.

The already-read page storage area 131 b stores identificationinformation (e.g., page numbers of “1, 2, 3, 4, 5,” “1, 2, 3,” “1, 2, 3,4,” etc.) of page data units which the portable terminal 20 decrypted byuse of the electronic book coupon, as “already-read pages.”

The bill storage area 131 c stores bill data (e.g., “7.5,” “3.5,” “6.0,”in the unit of yen) for page data decrypted by use of the electronicbook coupon by the portable terminal 20, as “bill.” This bill is anamount to be deducted from the electronic book coupon prior todecryption of page data, which is obtained by multiplying a unit pageprice of a corresponding electronic book by the number of already-readpages. For example, supposing that the unit page price of the electronicbook corresponding to the electronic book ID “00001” is ¥1.5/page andthat the already-read pages are five pages of “1, 2, 3, 4, 5,” we cancalculate as 1.5×5=7.5, and the bill calculated for the electronic bookis “7.5 yen.” As in this example, the minimum price unit of the bill maybe less than one yen.

The collection information DB 14 (corresponding to the collectioninformation storing means) stores “collection information” containingthe bill information received by the bill information receiver 13, incorrespondence to bill dates and collected bill payments. Here the billinformation is independent information per portable terminal user (i.e.,per electronic book purchaser), whereas the collection information isindependent information per electronic book.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of collectioninformation about three portable terminals including the portableterminal 20. The collection information corresponding to the portableterminal 20 will be described as a typical example below with referenceto FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the bill information 141 contains anelectronic book ID storage area 141 a, a bill date storage area 141 b,an already-read page storage area 141 c, a bill storage area 141 d, anda collected bill payment storage area 141 e.

The electronic book ID storage area 141 a stores an electronic book IDextracted from the electronic book ID storage area 131 a of the billinformation 131 described above. The already-read page storage area 141c stores already-read pages extracted from the already-read page storagearea 131 b of the bill information 131. Furthermore, the bill storagearea 141 d stores bills extracted from the bill storage area 131 c ofthe bill information 131.

The bill date storage area 141 b stores information indicating dates(e.g., “02.02.27,” “02.02.28,” “02.03.04”) of billing for thecorresponding electronic book, i.e., dates in which the book data wasdecrypted, as “bill dates.”

The collected bill payment storage area 141 e stores the total amountdata (e.g., “18.0,” . . . , in the unit of yen) of bills for thecorresponding electronic book, as “collected bill payment.” Thiscollected bill payment is a total of prices deducted from the electronicbook coupons prior to the decryption of corresponding page data, and isequivalent to a sales amount of the electronic book. The collected billpayment is obtained by summing up all the bills stored in the billstorage area 141 d. In the present embodiment, the bills for theelectronic book ID “00001”, are “7.5 yen, 4.5 yen, 6.0 yen,” and thusthe collected bill payment for the electronic book is calculated as“18.0 yen.”

The charge information transmitter 15 transmits charge information tothe portable terminal 20 in accordance with a request from the portableterminal 20. The charge information is information containing a recordof an electronic worth for replenishing the electronic book coupon, forexample, when the remainder of the electronic book coupon becomes small.

The profit allocation processor 16 executes a process of allocating thecollected bill payment for each book data at a predetermined ratio onthe basis of the collection information stored in the collectioninformation DB 14. Allocations are determined by multiplying thecollected bill payment by a predetermined allocation ratio withreference to a table in which receivers of allocations and allocationratios are stored in correspondence to each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the portable terminal 20 has an electronic bookcoupon receiver 21, an electronic book coupon storage 22, an electronicbook request transmitter 23, a book data receiver 24, an electronic bookcoupon deductor 25, a book data decryptor 26, a bill informationtransmitter 27, and a charge information receiver 28.

The electronic book coupon receiver 21 receives an electronic bookcoupon transmitted from the electronic book coupon transmitter 12 of theelectronic book coupon circulating server 10.

The electronic book coupon storage 22 stores the electronic book couponreceived by the electronic book coupon receiver 21, into a predeterminedarea. This electronic book coupon contains a decryption key fordecryption of book data and remainder information indicating theremainder of electronic worth. The electronic book coupon storage 22 ispreferably comprised of an IC card or an IC-card-equivalenttamper-resistant device in order to circulate electronic book couponsonly between tamper-resistant devices equivalent to or higher than theIC cards in view of the confidentiality, reliability, etc. of data.

The electronic book request transmitter 23 transmits a request fortransmission of an electronic book to the electronic book providingserver 30.

The book data receiver 24 receives book data transmitted from theelectronic book providing server 30. The book data contains theaforementioned electronic book ID.

The electronic book coupon deductor 25 deducts an electronic worthequivalent to a price according to page data requested to be read out,from the electronic book coupon in accordance with a readout request forreadout of the page data in the book data received by the book datareceiver 24.

The book data decryptor 26 decrypts the page data in conjunction withthe deduction of the electronic worth equivalent to the price accordingto the page data requested to be read out, from the electronic bookcoupon by the electronic book coupon deductor 25. The decryption iscarried out by use of the decryption key in the electronic book couponreceived by the electronic book coupon receiver 21.

The bill information transmitter 27 generates the bill informationcorresponding to the decrypted page data in conjunction withtransmission of a charge request to the electronic book couponcirculating server 10, and transmits it to the electronic book couponcirculating server 10. The charge request is transmitted for chargingthe electronic book coupon with a shortfall of electronic worth, but itis not always transmitted when the remainder of electronic worth becomes0; the transmission timing can be arbitrary.

The charge information receiver 28 receives the aforementioned chargeinformation from the electronic book coupon circulating server 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic book providing server 30 has a bookdata storage 31, an electronic book request receiver 32, a book dataencryptor 33, and a book data transmitter 34. The electronic bookproviding server 30 is a server apparatus managed by a publisherpublishing electronic books, a distribution agent providing electronicbooks, or the like.

The book data storage 31 stores book data as objects for provision aselectronic books. In a preferred embodiment, the book data is providedwith a digital signature in order to clearly demonstrate the place oforigin thereof.

The electronic book request receiver 32 receives an electronic booktransmission request transmitted from the electronic book requesttransmitter 23 of the portable terminal 20.

The book data encryptor 33 encrypts a plurality of page data units inthe book data requested to be transmitted, on a unit-by-unit basis inconjunction with the reception of the electronic book transmissionrequest by the electronic book request receiver 32. The encryption isperformed by use of an encryption key.

In another potential configuration, the book data as objects ofprovision is preliminarily encrypted in page data units and theencrypted data is stored in the book data storage 31. In thisconfiguration, the book data encryptor 33 is not always an essentialcomponent in the providing server according to the present invention.

The book data transmitter 34 transmits the book data requested to betransmitted, to the portable terminal 20. The book data does not alwayshave to be transmitted in the full volume of book data at a time, butmay also be arranged to be transmitted as data divided on a page orchapter basis in accordance with a request from the user of the portableterminal 20. The portable terminal 20 has the smaller capacity ofavailable radio resources and the smaller volume of data processable orrecordable at a time than the terminal equipment such as the personalcomputers or the like. For this reason, the bulk download oflarge-volume data like book data of full volume is not practical interms of the communication load on the mobile communication networks andthe processing power of the portable terminal. Therefore, the moderatesegmentation of received book data can implement reduction of thecommunication load and reception of data in the volume suitable for theprocessing power.

The operation of the electronic book distributing system 1 in thepresent embodiment will be described below, together with the electronicbook distributing method according to the present invention. Each of thesteps described below is implemented when the programs stored in thestorage device 10 c shown in FIG. 2, in the memory device 20 e shown inFIG. 3, and in the storage device 30 c are executed by the CPU 10 a,control unit 20 a, and CPU 30 a.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of informationprocessing executed by the electronic book distributing system 1. Whenthe electronic book coupon circulating server 10 first receives atransmission request for transmission of an electronic book coupon 50from the portable terminal 20, it retrieves the electronic book coupon50 requested to be transmitted, from the electronic book coupon storage11. The electronic book coupon transmitter 12 transmits the electronicbook coupon 50 thus retrieved, to the portable terminal 20. Theelectronic book coupon receiver 21 of the portable terminal 20 receivesthe electronic book coupon 50 transmitted (S1). The received electronicbook coupon 50 is stored into the electronic book coupon storage 22.

The electronic book coupon 50 transmitted and received in S1 contains adecryption key A for decryption of the encrypted electronic book. Theelectronic book coupon 50 is received between the electronic book couponstorage 11 and the electronic book coupon storage 22 in conformity to aprotocol preliminarily defined between the electronic book couponcirculating server 10 and the portable terminal 20, and is alwayspresent only in these storages. Since these storages both are thetamper-resistant devices, as described above, it is feasible to preventthe injustices including the leakage, falsification, etc. of the data inthe electronic book coupon by a third person. As a result, it isfeasible to ensure high confidentiality and reliability of theelectronic book coupon 50.

When the portable terminal 20 acquires the electronic book coupon 50,the user of the portable terminal 20 becomes able to purchase anelectronic book. When the user purchases an electronic book, theelectronic book request transmitter 23 of the portable terminal 20transmits an electronic book request to the electronic book providingserver 30. The electronic book request thus transmitted is received bythe electronic book request receiver 32 of the electronic book providingserver 30 (S2).

When the electronic book request is received, the book datacorresponding to the requested electronic book is read out of the bookdata storage 31. The book data 60 thus read out is encrypted by use ofan encryption key A by the book data encryptor 33. The encryptionprocess of the book data 60 is carried out in steps of one page dataunit (S31-S33).

For convenience sake of description, let us suppose in the presentembodiment that the book consists of three pages. Therefore, the bookdata 60 consists of first page data 61, second page data 62, and thirdpage data 63. Although the encryption key A used in the encryption isillustrated as a single encryption key in FIG. 7, it is also possible touse different encryption keys for the respective page data units.

The encryption process in S31-S33 results in encrypting the book data 60by the encryption key A and generating “book data 60×key A.” Here “X×Y”indicates that “X” is data encrypted by use of “Y.” For example,“data×key A” indicates that data is data encrypted by use of theencryption key A. The book data 60×key A indicates that the first tothird page data is data encrypted by use of the encryption key A.Accordingly, book data×key A 70 is data consisting of first pagedata×key A 71, second page data×key A 72, and third page data×key A 73.

The book data×key A 70 is transmitted to the portable terminal 20 by thebook data transmitter 34. The book data×key A 70 thus transmitted isreceived by the book data receiver 24 of the portable terminal 20 (S4).When a readout request for readout of at least one page data unit ismade for the received book data×key A 70, an electronic worth equivalentto a price according to the page data requested to be read out isdeducted from the electronic book coupon 50 by the electronic bookcoupon deductor 25.

After the electronic worth deduction process is completed for the bookdata×key A 70, the book data decryptor 26 decrypts the book data×key A70 by use of the decryption key A in the electronic book coupon 50. Thedecryption process of the book data×key A 70 is carried out in steps ofone page data unit, as in the case of the encryption process (S51-S53).

The decryption process is desirably executed inside the IC card as theelectronic book coupon storage 22. Since the IC card is thetamper-resistant device, the page data is decrypted inside thetamper-resistant device by use of the decryption key stored in thetamper-resistant device. Accordingly, higher security can be ensuredthan in the case where it is decrypted inside application software suchas dedicated browser software or inside hardware equipped with an ICcard reader.

Then the page data decrypted by the book data decryptor 26 is displayedin a predetermined display area of the display device 20 d shown in FIG.3, to be read by the user of the portable terminal 20.

The decryption process of the book data×key A 70 is executed inconjunction with completion of the electronic worth deduction process.In other words, the book data×key A 70 will never be decrypted unlessthe electronic worth deduction process is completed. Accordingly, if theremainder of the electronic worth in the electronic book coupon 50 isless than the price of the book data as an object of decryption, thebook data will not be decrypted and the portable terminal 20 cannotdisplay the book data. This imposes restrictions on the purchase andreading of the electronic book by the user of the portable terminal 20.

Then the user of the portable terminal 20 needs to charge the electronicbook coupon with additional electronic worth in order to continue thepurchase and reading of the desired book data. The charging withelectronic worth is started when the portable terminal 20 transmits acharge request to the electronic book coupon circulating server 10;specifically, the bill information transmitter 27 transmits the billinformation about the decrypted page data along with this charge requestto the electronic book coupon circulating server 10 (S6). The billinformation thus transmitted is received by the bill informationreceiver 13 to be used for generation of the collection information asdescribed above.

Accordingly, when the user of the portable terminal 20 replenishes theelectronic book coupon with an electronic worth of shortfall, thecollection information DB automatically comes to reflect the informationabout the electronic book purchased and read by the user. This makes itfeasible to securely and collectively allocate the profit according tothe electronic worth used between acquisition and charging of theelectronic book coupon.

In the electronic book distributing system 1 according to the presentinvention, as described above, the deduction process or billing in stepsof one page data unit is effected on the portable terminal 20 at thetime of the decryption of the book data 60. For this reason, theelectronic book providing server 30 can provide the electronic book on apage-by-page basis. Accordingly, the user of the portable terminal 20can purchase and read only desired pages in a desired book. The user isnot billed for pages that the user does not desire to purchase and readin the acquired book, so that the user can reduce the waste of theelectronic book coupon. As a result, the convenience can be enhanced inuse of the electronic book.

Furthermore, the book data is encrypted page data in steps of one pagedata unit, and an electronic worth equivalent to a price according todecrypted page data is deducted from the electronic book coupon, priorto decryption of each page data unit. For this reason, billing takesplace inevitably with decryption and display of page data, whereby it isfeasible to prevent unauthorized copy and unreasonable billing of pagedata.

The administrator of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10can readily specify allocation receivers of profit with circulation ofelectronic book coupons and electronic books by referring to theelectronic book IDs stored in the collection information DB 14. Theadministrator of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10 canalso readily and quickly calculate allocations to respective allocationreceivers out of the profit by referring to the collection informationstored in the collection information DB 14.

For example, in the case where the allocation receivers of the aboveprofit are three parties including the administrator of the electronicbook coupon circulating server 10, the publisher of the electronic book,and the author of the electronic book and where the allocation ratio tothese allocation receivers is 30%, 50%, and 20%, respectively, thecollected bill payment corresponding to the electronic book is allocatedat the ratio of 3:5:2 to the respective allocation receivers. If theadministrator of the electronic book providing server 30 is differentfrom the publisher of the electronic book, the profit is also allocatedto the administrator of the electronic book providing server 30.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Since the basicconfiguration of the electronic book distributing system in the presentembodiment is much the same as the configuration of the electronic bookdistributing system 1 in the first embodiment, the components will bedenoted by the same reference symbols without description thereof andthe differences from the first embodiment will be detailed below. Theelectronic book distributing system 2 in the present embodiment isdifferent from the electronic book distributing system 1 in the firstembodiment in that a key for decryption of book data is furtherencrypted and the key is decrypted by use of a decryption key.

The operation of the electronic book distributing system 2 in thepresent embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 8,together with the electronic book distributing method according to thepresent invention. Each of the steps described below is implemented whenthe programs stored in the storage device 10 c (cf. FIG. 2), the memorydevice 20 e (cf. FIG. 3), and the storage device 30 c are executed bythe CPU 10 a, the control unit 20 a, and the CPU 30 a.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of informationprocessing executed by the electronic book distributing system 2. Theoperation of the electronic book distributing system 2 in the presentembodiment is much the same in major part as the operation of theelectronic book distributing system 1 detailed in the first embodiment.Namely, T1, T2, and T7 shown in FIG. 8 correspond to S1, S2, and S6shown in FIG. 7. The following is the description of T31-T33, T41-T43,T5, and T61-T63 in which processes different from those in the secondembodiment are executed.

Namely, T31-T33 are to encrypt the book data 60 in the respective pagedata units 61, 62, and 63. T41-T43 are to encrypt a plurality ofdecryption keys A for decryption of the encrypted book data 60 by anencryption key B. As a result, these processes yield book data×key A×keyB 80.

In T5, the book data×key A×key B 80 is transmitted along with theplurality of decryption keys A from the electronic book providing server30 to the portable terminal 20. The book data×key A×key B 80 consists ofpage data×key A×key B 81-83, and the plurality of decryption keys A aretransmitted while being attached to the respective data units.

In T61-T63, the portable terminal 20 decrypts the book data×key A×key B80 in order to acquire the book data. This decryption process is carriedout stepwise. Namely, the encryption key B is first decrypted by use ofthe decryption key B held by the electronic book coupon 50, to generatethe decryption key A and the book data×key A. Subsequently, the bookdata×key A is decrypted by use of the decryption key A thus generated,to generate the book data.

As described above, the plurality of page data units constituting thebook data each are encrypted. Furthermore, the plurality of decryptionkeys A for decryption of the plurality of encrypted page data units eachare encrypted by the encryption key B. The electronic book coupon 50 hasthe decryption key B for decryption of the plurality of encrypteddecryption keys A. This results in effecting double encryption of thepage data transmitted and received between terminals, whereby thesecurity level can be raised as compared with the system in the firstembodiment.

It is noted that the forms described in the respective embodiments arejust preferred examples of the electronic book distributing systemaccording to the present invention and that the present invention is byno means intended to be limited to these forms. For example, either ofthe above embodiments may be arranged so that the encryption key and thedecryption key are identical with each other (in the private-keycryptographic scheme) or different from each other (in the public-keycryptographic scheme). However, in order to ensure higher security aboutbook data, it is desirable to adopt the public-key cryptographic schemewith easier management of keys and higher security than the private(common)-key cryptographic scheme.

The bill information was arranged to be transmitted along with thecharge request, but the transmission timing of the bill information canbe arbitrary; it may be transmitted in conjunction with the deductionprocess of electronic worth. For example, the first embodiment may bemodified as follows. With a readout request for readout of first pagedata×key A 71 and second page data×key A 72 out of the first to thirdencrypted page data units, an electronic worth equivalent to the twopage data units is deducted from the electronic book coupon. Inconjunction therewith, the bill information in which the first page data61 and the second page data 62 of the book data 60 is described asalready-read pages, is transmitted to the electronic book couponcirculating server 10. Concerning billing targets in the billinformation to be transmitted at this time, the number of page data canbe one or more, of course, and the number of book data can also be oneor more.

In this configuration, the bill information is transmitted to theelectronic book coupon circulating server 10 prior to the decryption ofthe book data (page data), and thus the bill information correspondingto the decrypted book data is completely reflected in the collectioninformation DB. Namely, no time lag takes place between decryption ofbook data and update of collection information. Accordingly, theadministrator of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10becomes able to always properly and quickly allocate the profit on thebasis of the up-to-date collection information.

Furthermore, the above embodiments both were arranged so that theportable terminal 20 once received the full volume of one electronicbook and executed the decryption process and deduction process (billingprocess) in page units, but all the processes including the receptionmay be arranged to be carried out in page units. Specifically, the userof the portable terminal 20 designates page units of an electronic bookto be transmitted (e.g., P1-P10 of book X) and the electronic bookproviding server 30 transmits only the designated page data units to theportable terminal 20. This arrangement can avoid transmission andreception of unnecessary page data in the case where the user of theportable terminal 20 can preliminarily determine pages that the userdesires to purchase and read. Accordingly, it is feasible to reduce thecommunication load due to consumption of radio resources and to save thestorage area of the book data.

Third Embodiment

The electronic book distributing system according to the presentinvention will be described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is aschematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of theelectronic book distributing system 3 in the present embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 1, the electronic book distributing system 3 is mainlycomprised of an electronic book coupon circulating server 10(corresponding to the circulating server), a portable terminal 20(corresponding to the portable terminal), and an electronic bookproviding server 30 (corresponding to the providing server).

The portable terminal 20 is connected via abase station B and a networkN to the electronic book coupon circulating server 10, and the portableterminal 20 and the electronic book coupon circulating server 10 areable to transmit and receive data to and from each other. Likewise, theportable terminal 20 is connected via the base station B and the networkN to the electronic book providing server 30, and the portable terminal20 and the electronic book providing server 30 are able to transmit andreceive data to and from each other.

The hardware configurations of the respective terminal devicesconstituting the electronic book distributing system 3 will be describedbelow. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the electronic bookcoupon circulating server 10. The electronic book coupon circulatingserver 10 is comprised of a CPU 10 a, a memory 10 b such as a RAM(Random Access Memory), a storage device 10 c such as a hard disk, atransmission-reception device 10 d such as a communication cardconfigured to implement transmission and reception of data to and fromthe portable terminal 20, an input device 10 e such as a keyboard, amouse, etc., and a display device 10 f such as a display unit. The CPU10 a, memory 10 b, storage device 10 c, transmission-reception device 10d, input device 10 e, and display device 10 f are electrically connectedso as to be able to send and receive various signals through a bus 10 g.

The hardware configuration of the portable terminal 20 will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a hardware configurationdiagram of portable terminal 20. The portable terminal 20 is comprisedof a control unit 20 a, an input device 20 b, a RAM 20 c, a displaydevice 20 d, a memory device 20 e incorporating an IC card 21 e in adetachable state, a radio communication device 20 f, and a soundprocessing device 20 g. These devices are electrically connected eachthrough a bus 20 h so as to be able to transmit and receive varioussignals to and from each other.

Since the portable terminal 20 is a terminal forming the principal partof the electronic book distributing system according to the presentinvention, hardware configurations of the respective devices will bedescribed below in more detail.

The control unit 20 a retrieves a program stored in the memory device 20e, into the RAM 20 c and performs concentrated control over each of theparts according to the program. Namely, the control unit 20 a executes avariety of processes including an electronic worth reduction processfrom an electronic book coupon, a decryption process of book data, etc.in accordance with an input signal from the input device 20 b and theprogram retrieved into the RAM 20 c and temporarily saves the processingresult in the RAM 20 c. Then the control unit stores the processingresult saved in the RAM 20 c, into a predetermined area inside thememory device 20 e according to need.

The input device 20 b is provided with various operation buttons toorder ON/OFF of power, selection of functions, etc., and these variousoperation buttons are depressed alone or in combination to output aninput signal according to a command to the control unit 20 a.

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 20 c is comprised of a volatilesemiconductor memory and is configured to temporarily save the programor data retrieved from the memory device 20 e described hereinafter,during the various processes executed by the control unit 20 a. The RAM20 c also has the function of VRAM (Video RAM) for temporarily savingdata to be displayed on the display device 20 d.

The display device 20 d is comprised of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),an EL (Electro Luminescence) device, or the like, and is configured todisplay data on a screen according to a display signal supplied from thecontrol unit 20 a.

The memory device 20 e is comprised of a nonvolatile semiconductormemory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) orthe like, and is configured to store data necessary for execution of thevarious processes, data generated as a result of execution of thevarious processes, and so on. The memory device 20 e is equipped with anIC (Integrated Circuit) card 21 e in a detachable state. The IC card 21e can store the electronic book coupon described hereinafter.

The radio communication device 20 f controls radio communication withthe base station B. Specifically, the radio communication device 20 f isa circuit having a modem (not shown) for modulating and demodulatingsignals, and a codec (not shown) for coding and decoding signals, and isequipped with an antenna A. The antenna A is retractably mounted in theupper part of a housing of the portable terminal 20 and is adapted totransmit and receive radio waves to and from the base station B.

The sound processing device 20 g is comprised of a converter, anamplifier, etc. and is equipped with a microphone M and a speaker S. Thesound processing device 20 g is configured to convert audio data fromthe control unit 20 a into analog signals by the converter (not shown)and emit sound from the speaker S through the amplifier (not shown),during calls. The sound processing device 20 g is also configured toconvert audio signals from the microphone M into digital signals by theconverter and output the digital signals to the control unit 20 a,during calls.

The hardware configuration of the electronic book providing server 30,which is also a component of the electronic book distributing system 3,is much the same as that of the electronic book coupon circulatingserver 10. Accordingly, the components of the electronic book providingserver 30 will be denoted by a like series of reference symbols as thoseof the components of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10,without the illustration and detailed description thereof. Namely, theelectronic book providing server 30 is provided with a CPU 30 a, amemory 30 b, a storage device 30 c, a transmission-reception device 30d, an input device 30 e, and a display device 30 f, and these deviceseach are electrically connected so as to be able to send and receivevarious signals through a bus 30 g.

FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram showing the functionalconfiguration of the electronic book distributing system 3 in thepresent embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the electronic book couponcirculating server 10 has an electronic book coupon storage 11, anelectronic book coupon transmitter 12, a bill information receiver 13, acollection information DB (Data Base) 14, a charge informationtransmitter 15, and a profit allocation processor 16. The electronicbook coupon circulating server 10 is a server apparatus managed by anelectronic book coupon circulating company selling electronic bookcoupons in the prepaid system.

In order to clearly discriminate a book from pages being component unitsof the book, electronic data of the former will be referred to as “bookdata,” and electronic data of the latter as “page data.” Namely, thebook data consists of a plurality of page data units. The components ofthe book, which are individually digitized as electronic data, do notalways have to be pages, but may also be chapters, paragraphs, and soon.

The electronic book coupon storage 11 stores electronic book coupons aselectronic values. The electronic book coupon storage 11 is preferablycomprised of an IC-card-equivalent tamper-resistant device in view ofthe confidentiality and reliability of data in the electronic bookcoupons. The electronic book coupons are used for acquisition of bookdata containing a plurality of page data units as a plurality ofcomponent data units. An electronic book coupon includes a decryptionkey for decryption of a plurality of encrypted decryption keys, andremainder information indicating the remainder of electronic worth. In apreferred embodiment, the electronic book coupon is provided with adigital signature issued by a certification organization, in order toensure the validity thereof and clearly demonstrate the place of originthereof.

The electronic book coupon transmitter 12 transmits an electronic bookcoupon read out of the electronic book coupon storage 11, to theportable terminal 20 in accordance with a request from the portableterminal 20.

The bill information receiver 13 receives bill information transmittedfrom a bill information transmitter 27 of the portable terminal 20. Thebill information contains at least information for specifying page dataand a bill for decryption of decryption keys for decryption of the pagedata. The bill information received by the bill information receiver 13will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 isa diagram showing a configuration example of the bill information 132transmitted from the portable terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the billinformation 132 contains an electronic book ID storage area 132 a, analready-used decryption key storage area 132 b, and a bill storage area132 c.

The electronic book ID storage area 132 a stores identificationinformation (e.g., “00001,” “00002,” “00004”) of electronic books whichthe portable terminal 20 acquired from the electronic book providingserver 30, as “electronic book IDs.” The electronic book IDs can be, forexample, ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) by which countries,publishers, titles, etc. can be specified.

The already-used decryption key storage area 132 b stores identificationinformation (“A1, A2, A3, A4, A5,” “B1, B2, B3,” “D1, D2, D3, D4,”) ofthe decryption keys which the portable terminal 20 decrypted by use ofthe electronic book coupon, as “already-used decryption keys.”

The bill storage area 132 c stores bill data (e.g., “7.5,” “3.5,” “6.0,”in the unit of yen) for the decryption keys decrypted by use of theelectronic book coupon by the portable terminal 20, as “bill.” This billis an amount to be deducted from the electronic book coupon prior todecryption of the decryption keys, which is obtained by multiplying aunit decryption key price of a corresponding electronic book by thenumber of already-used decryption keys. For example, supposing that theunit decryption key price of the electronic book corresponding to theelectronic book ID “00001” is ¥1.5 and that the already-used decryptionkeys are five data items of “A1, A2, A3, A4, A5,” we can calculate as1.5×5=7.5, and the bill calculated for the electronic book is “7.5 yen.”As in this example, the minimum price unit of the bill may be less thanone yen.

The collection information DB 14 stores “collection information”containing the bill information received by the bill informationreceiver 13, in correspondence to bill dates and a bill. Here the billinformation is independent information per portable terminal user (i.e.,per electronic book purchaser), whereas the collection information isindependent information per electronic book.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of collectioninformation about three portable terminals including the portableterminal 20. The collection information corresponding to the portableterminal 20 will be described as a typical example below with referenceto FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, the bill information 142 contains anelectronic book ID storage area 142 a, a bill date storage area 142 b,an already-used decryption key storage area 142 c, a bill storage area142 d, and a collected bill payment storage area 142 e.

The electronic book ID storage area 142 a stores an electronic book IDextracted from the electronic book ID storage area 132 a of the billinformation 132 described above. The already-used decryption key storagearea 142 c stores already-used decryption keys extracted from thealready-used decryption key storage area 132 b of the bill information132. Furthermore, the bill storage area 142 d stores bills extractedfrom the bill storage area 132 c of the bill information 132.

The bill date storage area 142 b stores information indicating dates(e.g., “02.02.27,” “02.02.28,” “02.03.04”) of billing for thecorresponding electronic book, i.e., dates in which the decryption keysfor decryption of the page data were decrypted, as “bill dates.”

The collected bill payment storage area 142 e stores the total amountdata (e.g., “18.0,” . . . , in the unit of yen) of bills for thecorresponding electronic book, as “collected bill payment.” Thiscollected bill payment is a total of prices deducted from the electronicbook coupons prior to the decryption of corresponding decryption keys,and is equivalent to a sale amount of the electronic book. The collectedbill payment is determined by summing up all the bills stored in thebill storage area 142 d. In the present embodiment, the bills for theelectronic book ID “00001” are “7.5 yen, 4.5 yen, 6.0 yen,” and thus thecollected bill payment for the electronic book is calculated as “18.0yen.”

The charge information transmitter 15 transmits charge information tothe portable terminal 20 in accordance with a request from the portableterminal 20. The charge information is information containing a recordof an electronic worth for replenishing the electronic book coupon, forexample, when the remainder of the electronic book coupon becomes small.

The profit allocation processor 16 executes a process of allocating thecollected bill payment for each book data at a predetermined ratio onthe basis of the collection information stored in the collectioninformation DB 14. Allocations are determined by multiplying thecollected bill payment by a predetermined allocation ratio withreference to a table (not shown) in which receivers of allocations andallocation ratios are stored in correspondence to each other.

As shown in FIG. 9, the portable terminal 20 has an electronic bookcoupon receiver 21, an electronic book coupon storage 22, an electronicbook request transmitter 23, a book data receiver 24, an electronic bookcoupon deductor 25, a decryption key A decryptor 29, a book datadecryptor 26, a bill information transmitter 27, and a chargeinformation receiver 28.

The electronic book coupon receiver 21 receives an electronic bookcoupon transmitted from the electronic book coupon transmitter 12 of theelectronic book coupon circulating server 10.

The electronic book coupon storage 22 stores the electronic book couponreceived by the electronic book coupon receiver 21, into a predeterminedarea. This electronic book coupon contains a decryption key B fordecryption of the decryption keys A1, A2, and A3 (which will behereinafter referred to together as “decryption keys A”) for decryptionof the book data, and remainder information indicating the remainder ofelectronic worth. The electronic book coupon storage 22 is preferablycomprised of an IC card or an IC-card-equivalent tamper-resistant devicein order to circulate electronic book coupons only betweentamper-resistant devices equivalent to or higher than the IC cards inview of the confidentiality, reliability, etc. of the data storedinside.

The electronic book request transmitter 23 transmits a request fortransmission of an electronic book to the electronic book providingserver 30.

The book data receiver 24 receives book data transmitted from theelectronic book providing server 30. The book data contains theaforementioned electronic book ID.

The electronic book coupon deductor 25 deducts an electronic worthequivalent to a price according to the decryption keys A for decryptionof the page data requested to be read out, from the electronic bookcoupon in accordance with a readout request for readout of the page datain the book data received by the book data receiver 24.

The decryption key A decryptor 29 decrypts the decryption keys A fordecryption of the page data in conjunction with the deduction of theelectronic worth equivalent to the price according to the decryptionkeys A for decryption of the page data requested to be read out, fromthe electronic book coupon by the electronic book coupon deductor 25.For example, with a readout request for readout of the first page dataand third page data, the decryption key A1 and decryption key A3 aredecrypted. The decryption process is carried out by use of thedecryption key B included in the electronic book coupon received by theelectronic book coupon receiver 21.

The book data decryptor 26 decrypts the page data requested to be readout, in conjunction with the decryption of the decryption keys A by thedecryption key A decryptor 29. The decryption process is carried out byuse of the decryption keys A decrypted by the decryption key A decryptor29.

The bill information transmitter 27 generates the bill informationcorresponding to the decrypted decryption keys in conjunction withtransmission of a charge request to the electronic book couponcirculating server 10, and then transmits the bill information to theelectronic book coupon circulating server 10. The charge request istransmitted for charging the electronic book coupon with an electronicworth of shortfall, but it is not always transmitted when the remainderof electronic worth becomes 0; the transmission timing is arbitrary.

The charge information receiver 28 receives the aforementioned chargeinformation from the electronic book coupon circulating server 10.

As shown in FIG. 9, the electronic book providing server 30 has a bookdata storage 31, an electronic book request receiver 32, a book dataencryptor 33, a decryption key A encryptor 35, and a book datatransmitter 34. The electronic book providing server 30 is a serverapparatus managed by a publisher publishing electronic books, adistribution agent providing electronic books, or the like.

The book data storage 31 stores book data as objects for provision aselectronic books. In a preferred embodiment, the book data is providedwith a digital signature issued by a certification organization in orderto clearly demonstrate the place of origin thereof.

The electronic book request receiver 32 receives an electronic booktransmission request transmitted from the electronic book requesttransmitter 23 of the portable terminal 20.

The book data encryptor 33 encrypts a plurality of page data units inthe book data requested to be transmitted, on a unit-by-unit basis inconjunction with the reception of the electronic book transmissionrequest by the electronic book request receiver 32. The plurality ofpage data units encrypted herein can be decrypted by a plurality asdecryption keys A. The plurality of decryption keys A are keys differentfrom each other and are expressed as decryption keys A1, A2, and A3herein. The book data as an object of provision may be preliminarilyencrypted in page data units and stored in the book data storage 31. Inthis configuration, the book data encryptor 33 is not always anessential component in the providing server according to the presentinvention.

The decryption key A encryptor 35 encrypts a plurality of decryptionkeys A necessary for decryption of the respective page data units one byone in conjunction with the encryption of the plurality of page dataunits on a unit-by-unit basis by the book data encryptor 33. Theencryption is performed by use of an encryption key B. The decryptionkeys A as objects of transmission may be preliminarily encrypted one byone and stored in correspondence to the page data units in the book datastorage 31. In this case, the decryption key A encryptor 35 is notalways an essential component in the providing server according to thepresent invention.

The book data transmitter 34 transmits the book data requested to betransmitted, to the portable terminal 20. The book data does not alwayshave to be transmitted in the full volume of book data at a time, butmay also be arranged to be transmitted as data divided on a page orchapter basis in accordance with a request from the user of the portableterminal 20. The portable terminal 20 has the smaller capacity ofavailable radio resources and the smaller volume of data processable orrecordable at a time than the terminal equipment such as the personalcomputers or the like. For this reason, the bulk download oflarge-volume data like book data of full volume can be presumablyimpractical in terms of the communication load on the mobilecommunication networks and the processing power of the portableterminal. Therefore, the moderate segmentation of received book data canimplement reduction of the communication load and reception of data inthe volume suitable for the processing power.

The operation of the electronic book distributing system 3 in thepresent embodiment will be described below, together with the electronicbook distributing method according to the present invention. Each of thesteps described below is implemented when the programs stored in thestorage device 10 c shown in FIG. 2, in the memory device 20 e shown inFIG. 3, and in the storage device 30 c are executed by the CPU 10 a,control unit 20 a, and CPU 30 a.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of informationprocessing executed by the electronic book distributing system 3. Whenthe electronic book coupon circulating server 10 first receives atransmission request for transmission of an electronic book coupon 50from the portable terminal 20, it retrieves the electronic book coupon50 requested to be transmitted, from the electronic book coupon storage11. The electronic book coupon transmitter 12 transmits the electronicbook coupon 50 thus retrieved, to the portable terminal 20. Theelectronic book coupon receiver 21 of the portable terminal 20 receivesthe electronic book coupon 50 transmitted (U1). The received electronicbook coupon 50 is stored into the electronic book coupon storage 22. Asettlement process with the sale of the electronic book coupon isexecuted by an external settlement-dedicated server not illustrated.

The electronic book coupon 50 transmitted and received in U1 containsthe decryption key B for decryption of the decryption keys A fordecryption of the encrypted electronic book. The electronic book coupon50 is received between the electronic book coupon storage 11 and theelectronic book coupon storage 22 in conformity to a protocol definedbetween the electronic book coupon circulating server 10 and theportable terminal 20, and is always present in these storages. Sincethese storages both are the tamper-resistant devices, as describedabove, it is feasible to prevent the injustices including thereplication, falsification, etc. of the data inside the electronic bookcoupon by a third person.

When the portable terminal 20 acquires the electronic book coupon 50,the user of the portable terminal 20 becomes able to purchase anelectronic book. When the user purchases an electronic book, theelectronic book request transmitter 23 of the portable terminal 20transmits an electronic book request to the electronic book providingserver 30. The electronic book request thus transmitted is received bythe electronic book request receiver 32 of the electronic book providingserver 30 (U2).

When the electronic book request is received, the book datacorresponding to the requested electronic book is read out of the bookdata storage 31. The book data 60 thus read out is encrypted by use ofan encryption key A (not shown) by the book data encryptor 33. Theencryption process of the book data 60 is carried out in steps of onepage data unit (U31-U33).

For convenience sake of description, let us suppose in the presentembodiment that the book consists of three pages. Namely, the book data60 consists of first page data 61, second page data 62, and third pagedata 63.

The encryption process in U31-U33 results in encrypting the book data 60by the encryption key A and generating “book data 60×key A.” Here “X×Y”indicates that “X” is data encrypted by use of “Y.” For example,“data×key A” indicates that data is data encrypted by use of theencryption key A. The book data 60×key A indicates that the first tothird page data is data encrypted by use of the encryption key A.Accordingly, book data×key A is data consisting of first page data×keyA, second page data×key A, and third page data×key A.

Then the decryption key A encryptor 35 encrypts the decryption key A fordecryption of book data×key A by use of an encryption key B. Theencryption process of the decryption key A is carried out in units ofthe respective decryption keys A1, A2, and A3 (U41-U43). This results ingenerating encrypted data of the decryption key A for decryption of thebook data 60 by use of the encryption key B, book data×key A×key B 70.The book data×key A×key B 70 is data consisting of first page data×keyA×key B 71, second page data×key A×key B 72, and third page data×keyA×key B 73. The first page data×key A×key B 71, second page data×keyA×key B 72, and third page data×key A×key B 73 are provided with therespective decryption keys A1, A2, and A3.

The book data×key A×key B 70 is transmitted to the portable terminal 20by the book data transmitter 34. The book data×key A×key B 70 thustransmitted is received by the book data receiver 24 of the portableterminal 20 (U5). When a readout request for readout of at least onepage data unit is made for the received book data×key A 70, anelectronic worth equivalent to a price according to the decryption key Afor decryption of the page data requested to be read out is deductedfrom the electronic book coupon 50 by the electronic book coupondeductor 25.

After completion of the electronic worth deduction process about thebook data×key A×key B 70, the decryption key A decryptor 29 firstdecrypts the decryption key A. The decryption process of the decryptionkey A is carried out for each of the decryption keys A1, A2, and A3 byuse of the decryption key B included in the electronic book coupon 50.

Here the decryption process is executed inside the IC card as theelectronic book coupon storage 22. Since the IC card is thetamper-resistant device, the decryption key A is decrypted inside thetamper-resistant device by use of the decryption key B stored in thetamper-resistant device. Accordingly, higher security can be ensuredthan in the case where it is decrypted inside application software suchas dedicated browser software or inside hardware equipped with an ICcard reader.

After completion of the decryption process of the decryption key A, thenthe book data decryptor 26 decrypts the book data×key A, i.e., the firstpage data×key A, second page data×key A, and third page data×key A. Thedecryption process of the book data×key A is carried out in steps of onepage data unit by use of the decrypted decryption key A, as in theencryption process. (U61-U63). The decryption process is desirablyexecuted inside the IC card as the electronic book coupon storage 22.

Then the page data decrypted by the book data decryptor 26 is displayedin a predetermined display area of the display device 20 d shown in FIG.3, to be read by the user of the portable terminal 20.

The above decryption process of the decryption key A is executed inconjunction with completion of the electronic worth deduction process.In other words, the decryption key A will never be decrypted unless theelectronic worth deduction process is completed. Accordingly, if theremainder of the electronic worth in the electronic book coupon 50 issmaller than the price of the book data as an object of decryption, thedecryption key A will not be decrypted and, as a result, the book datawill not be decrypted, either. For this reason, the portable terminal 20cannot display the book data. This imposes restrictions according to theremainder of the electronic worth on the purchase and reading of theelectronic book by the user of the portable terminal 20.

Then the user of the portable terminal 20 needs to charge the electronicbook coupon with additional electronic worth in order to continue thepurchase and reading of the desired book data. The charging withelectronic worth is started when the portable terminal 20 transmits acharge request to the electronic book coupon circulating server 10;specifically, the bill information transmitter 27 transmits the billinformation about the decrypted decryption key A along with this chargerequest to the electronic book coupon circulating server 10 (U7). Thebill information thus transmitted is received by the bill informationreceiver 13 to be used for generation of the collection information asdescribed above.

Accordingly, when the user of the portable terminal 20 replenishes theelectronic book coupon with an electronic worth of shortfall, thecollection information DB automatically comes to reflect the informationabout the electronic book purchased and read by the user. This makes itfeasible to securely and collectively allocate the profit according tothe electronic worth used between acquisition and charging of theelectronic book coupon.

In the electronic book distributing system 3 according to the presentinvention, as described above, the deduction process or billing in stepsof one page data unit is effected on the portable terminal 20 at thetime of the decryption of the book data 60. For this reason, theelectronic book providing server 30 can provide the electronic book on apage-by-page basis. Accordingly, the user of the portable terminal 20can purchase and read only desired pages in a desired book. The user isnot billed for pages that the user does not desire to purchase and readin the acquired book, so that the user can reduce the waste of theelectronic book coupon. As a result, the convenience can be enhanced inuse of the electronic book.

In the electronic book distributing system 3 according to the presentinvention, the plurality of page data units constituting the book dataare encrypted unit by unit. Furthermore, the plurality of decryptionkeys A1, A2, and A3 for decryption of the plurality of encrypted pagedata units each are encrypted by the encryption key B. Namely, the pagedata transmitted and received between terminals is doubly encrypted.Furthermore, the plurality of decryption keys A1, A2, A3 are keysdifferent from each other. This can enhance the security level about thebook data.

Furthermore, prior to decryption of each decryption key A, theelectronic worth equivalent to the price according to the number of dataof the decrypted decryption key A is deducted from the electronic bookcoupon. For this reason, billing takes place inevitably with decryptionand display of page data, whereby it is feasible to prevent unauthorizedcopy and unreasonable billing of page data.

The administrator of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10can readily specify allocation receivers of profit with circulation ofelectronic book coupons and electronic books by referring to theelectronic book IDs stored in the collection information DB 14. Theadministrator of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10 canalso readily and quickly calculate allocations to respective allocationreceivers out of the profit by referring to collected bill paymentsstored in the collection information DB 14.

For example, in the case where the allocation receivers of the aboveprofit are three parties including the administrator of the electronicbook coupon circulating server 10, the publisher of the electronic book,and the author of the electronic book and where the allocation ratio ofthe above profit to these allocation receivers is 30%, 50%, and 20%,respectively, the collected bill payment corresponding to the electronicbook is allocated at the ratio of 3:5:2 to the respective allocationreceivers. If the administrator of the electronic book providing server30 is different from the publisher of the electronic book, the profit isalso allocated to the administrator of the electronic book providingserver 30.

It is noted that the forms described in the above embodiment are justpreferred examples of the electronic book distributing system accordingto the present invention and that the present invention is by no meansintended to be limited to these forms. For example, the above embodimentmay be arranged so that the encryption key B and the decryption key Bare identical with each other (in the private-key cryptographic scheme)or different from each other (in the public-key cryptographic scheme).However, in order to ensure higher security about book data, it isdesirable to adopt the public-key cryptographic scheme with easiermanagement of keys and higher security than the private (common)-keycryptographic scheme.

The bill information was arranged to be transmitted along with thecharge request, but the transmission timing of the bill information canbe arbitrary; it may be transmitted in conjunction with the deductionprocess of electronic worth. For example, the present embodiment may bemodified as follows. With a readout request for readout of first pagedata×key A×key B 71 and second page data×key A×key B 72 out of the firstto third encrypted page data units, an electronic worth equivalent tothe two decryption keys is deducted from the electronic book coupon. Inconjunction therewith, the bill information in which the decryption keyA1 and the decryption key A2 are described as already-used decryptionkeys, is transmitted to the electronic book coupon circulating server10. Concerning billing targets in the bill information to be transmittedat this time, the number of decryption keys can be one or more, ofcourse, and the number of book data can also be one or more.

In this configuration, the bill information is transmitted to theelectronic book coupon circulating server 10 prior to the decryption ofthe decryption key A, and thus the bill information corresponding to thedecrypted book data is completely reflected in the collectioninformation DB. Namely, no time lag takes place between decryption ofthe decryption key A and update of collection information. Accordingly,the administrator of the electronic book coupon circulating server 10becomes able to always properly and quickly allocate the profit on thebasis of the up-to-date collection information.

Furthermore, the above embodiment was arranged so that the portableterminal 20 once received the full volume of one electronic book andexecuted the decryption process of the decryption key and the deductionprocess of the electronic worth (billing process) in page units, but allthe processes including the reception may be arranged to be carried outin page units. Specifically, the user of the portable terminal 20designates page units of an electronic book to be transmitted (e.g.,P1-P10 of book X) and the electronic book providing server 30 transmitsthe page data designated, along with the decryption key A to theportable terminal 20. This arrangement can avoid transmission andreception of unnecessary page data in the case where the user of theportable terminal 20 can preliminarily determine pages that the userdesires to purchase and read. Accordingly, it is feasible to reduce thecommunication load due to consumption of radio resources and to save thestorage area of the book data.

The portable terminal does not have to be limited to the PDA or personalcomputer, but the terminal itself may be one without the communicationfunction. In this case, the portable terminal can perform communicationthrough an expansion device such as a cradle or the like.

Described last are a program for implementing the electronic bookdistribution technology according to the present invention and acomputer-readable recording medium (hereinafter referred to simply as“recording medium”) in which the program is recorded. The recordingmedium is a medium that can induce change states of energy such asmagnetism, light, electricity, or the like according to the descriptioncontents of a program against a reading device installed as one ofhardware resources of general-purpose computers or the like and that cantransmit the description contents of the program to the reading devicein the format of signals corresponding to the change states. Suchrecording media include, for example, those detachably mounted on thecomputers (including the portable terminals, PHS terminals, etc.) likethe IC cards of UIM and others, magnetic disks, optical disks, andmagnetooptical disks; and nonvolatile semiconductor memories such as HDs(Hard Disks) fixedly incorporated in the computers, firmware integrallyfixed in the computers, and so on.

The above program may be configured so that part or the whole thereof istransmitted through a transmission medium such as a communication lineor the like from another device to be received by the communicationdevice of each terminal equipment according to the present invention andrecorded therein. Conversely, the above program may also be configuredto be transmitted from each terminal equipment according to the presentinvention through the transmission medium to another device to beinstalled therein.

From the invention thus described, it will be obvious that theembodiments of the invention may be varied in many ways. Such variationsare not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilledin the art are intended for inclusion within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A communication terminal, comprising: an electronic value storageunit configured to store an electronic value used in acquisition of bookdata containing a plurality of component data units, along with adecryption key, said decryption key used in decryption of at least oneof the plurality of component data units; an electronic book requesttransmitter configured to transmit an electronic book readout request toan electronic book providing server; a book data receiver configured toreceive the book data from the electronic book providing server; adeductor configured to deduct electronic worth from the electronic valuestorage unit, according to the component data requested to be read outby the readout request, in increments of an electronic worth of onecomponent data unit from the electronic value; and a component datadecryptor configured to decrypt component data in increments of onecomponent data unit by use of said decryption key, wherein the decryptordecrypts said component data unit after the deduction of the electronicworth by the deductor.
 2. The communication terminal according to claim1, further comprising an electronic value receiver configured to receivethe electronic value and the decryption key from a circulating server,wherein the electronic value unit is configured to store the electronicvalue and the decryption key received by the electronic value receiver.3. A portable terminal, comprising: an electronic value storage unitconfigured to store an electronic value used in acquisition of book datacontaining a plurality of component data units, along with a decryptionkey, said decryption key used in decryption of at least one of theplurality of component data units; an electronic book requesttransmitter configured to transmit an electronic book readout request toan electronic book providing server; a book data receiver configured toreceive the book data from the electronic book providing server; adeductor configured to deduct electronic worth from the electronic valuestorage unit, according to the component data requested to be read outby the readout request, in increments of an electronic worth of onecomponent data unit; and a component data decryptor configured todecrypt the component data in increments of one component data unit byuse of said decryption key, wherein the terminal decrypts said componentdata after the deduction of the electronic worth by the deductor.
 4. Theportable terminal according to claim 3, further comprising an electronicvalue receiver configured to receive the electronic value and thedecryption key from a circulating server, wherein the electronic valuestorage unit is configured to store the electronic value and thedecryption key received by the electronic value receiver.
 5. Theportable terminal according to claim 3, wherein the book data receiveris configured to receive the book data in increments of one componentdata unit from the providing server.
 6. The portable terminal accordingto claim 3, further comprising a bill information transmitter configuredto transmit information for specifying the component data and price, asbill information to the circulating server.
 7. The portable terminalaccording to claim 6, wherein the bill information transmitter isconfigured to transmit the bill information to the circulating server inconjunction with a charge request to replenish the electronic value ofthe portable terminal from the circulating server.
 8. The portableterminal according to claim 7, further comprising a charge informationreceiver configured to receive charge information to replenish theelectronic value of the portable terminal from the circulating server,wherein said electronic value is replenished based on the chargeinformation received by the charge information receiver.
 9. The portableterminal according to claim 3, wherein said electronic value storageunit is comprised of a tamper-resistant device, and wherein thecomponent data decryptor is configured to decrypt the component data inincrements of one component data unit inside the electronic valuestorage unit.
 10. The portable terminal according to claim 3, whereinsaid decryption key is used in decryption of a second decryption key fordecryption of said plurality of component data units, and wherein, inconjunction with the deduction of the electronic worth according to thecomponent data by the deductor, the component data decryptor isconfigured to decrypt the second decryption key for decryption of thecomponent data units in increments of one component data unit by use ofthe decryption key and to decrypt the component data in increments ofone component data unit.
 11. A circulating server configured tocommunicate with a communication terminal, said circulating servercomprising: an electronic value storage unit configured to store anelectronic value along with a decryption key, said electronic value andsaid decryption key configured to be transmitted to the communicationsterminal, wherein said electronic value and said decryption key arestored in an electronic value storage unit of the terminal so that saidterminal acquires with said electronic value at least one of componentdata units of book data, from a providing server; and an electronicvalue transmitter configured to transmit said electronic value and saiddecryption key to the communication terminal, wherein the terminal isconfigured to decrypt said component data after deducting an electronicworth from the electronic value of the electronic value storage unit ofthe terminal, in accordance with the component data indicated in areadout request by the terminal, said electronic worth associated withsaid component data unit.
 12. A circulating server according to claim11, wherein said server is configured to connect to a portable terminalas said communication terminal.
 13. A circulating server according toclaim 12, further comprising: a bill information receiver configured toreceive bill information from the portable terminal; and a billinformation storage unit configured to store the bill informationreceived by the bill information receiver, in correspondence toidentification information of the portable terminal.
 14. A circulatingserver according to claim 12, further comprising: a bill informationreceiver configured to receive bill information from the portableterminal; a collection information storage unit configured to store acollected bill payment for each of said book data in correspondence tothe bill information received by the bill information receiver, ascollection information; and a profit allocator configured to allocatethe collected bill payment at a predetermined ratio on the basis of thecollection information stored in the collection information storageunit.
 15. The circulating server according to claim 12, wherein theelectronic value storage unit of the circulating server is configured tobe tamper-resistant, and wherein said electronic value is configured tobe transmitted and received between the electronic value storage unit ofthe circulating server and the electronic value storage unit of theportable terminal, in conformity to a protocol defined between thecirculating server and the portable terminal.
 16. A providing serverconfigured to be connected to a communication terminal, said providingserver comprising: book data encrypting means for encrypting book datacontaining a plurality of component data units, in steps of onecomponent data unit; and book data transmitting means for transmittingthe book data encrypted by the book data encrypting means to thecommunication terminal where the terminal decrypts said encrypted bookdata substantially in conjunction with an electronic worth associatedwith said component data unit being deducted from an electronic valuestored in said terminal.
 17. A providing server according to claim 16,wherein said server is configured to connect to a portable terminal assaid communication terminal.
 18. The providing server according to claim17, wherein the book data transmitting means transmits the book data insteps of one component data unit to the portable terminal.
 19. Theproviding server according to claim 17, further comprising decryptionkey encrypting means for encrypting a plurality of decryption keys fordecryption of the plurality of component data units in the book data.20. An electronic book distributing method for a portable terminal, saidelectronic book distributing method comprising: storing in a storageunit of the portable terminal an electronic value used in acquisition ofbook data containing a plurality of component data units, along with adecryption key used in decryption of at least one of the plurality ofcomponent data units; sending a readout request from the portableterminal to a providing server, for readout of component data of thebook data from the providing server; receiving the book data from theproviding server to a book data receiver of the portable terminal; whensending the readout request, deducting, by the portable terminal, inaccordance with the readout request an electronic worth from theelectronic value stored in said storage unit of the portable terminal,according to the component data requested to be read out in the sending,in increments of an electronic worth of one component data unit anddecrypting, by the portable terminal, the component data in-incrementsof one component data unit by use of said decryption key after deductingthe electronic worth according to the component data unit.
 21. Anelectronic book distributing method for a circulating server configuredto be connected to a portable terminal, said electronic bookdistributing method comprising: transmitting an electronic value alongwith a decryption key to the portable terminal, said terminal configuredto store said electronic value and said decryption key, wherein saidterminal is configured to deduct an electronic worth from saidelectronic value stored in a storage unit of said terminal, according tocomponent data of book data requested to be read out in a readoutrequest sent by the terminal to a providing server, decrypting with saidterminal said component data in increments of one component data unitwith said decryption key.
 22. An electronic book distributing method fora circulating server according to claim 21, further comprising:receiving bill information from the portable terminal; and storing in astorage unit of the circulating server the bill information received inthe bill information receiving, in correspondence to identificationinformation of the portable terminal.
 23. An electronic bookdistributing method for a circulating server according to claim 21,further comprising: receiving bill information from the portableterminal; storing in a storage unit of the circulating server acollected bill payment for each said book data in correspondence to thebill information received in the bill information receiving, ascollection information; and allocating the collected bill payment at apredetermined ratio on the basis of the collection information.
 24. Anelectronic book distributing method for a providing server configured tobe connected to a portable terminal, said electronic book distributingmethod comprising: encrypting book data containing a plurality ofcomponent data units, in steps of one component data unit; andtransmitting the book data encrypted in the book data encrypting step tothe portable terminal, said portable terminal configured to store anelectronic value and a decryption key, where the terminal deducts anelectronic worth from said electronic value and substantially inconjunction decrypts said component data unit of the book data receivedfrom the providing server.
 25. An electronic book distributing computerprogram product, having instructions that when executed by a processorperform increments comprising: storing in a storage unit of a portableterminal an electronic value used in acquisition of book data containinga plurality of component data units, along with a decryption key used indecryption of at least one of the plurality of component data units;sending a readout request for readout of component data of the book datafrom a providing server; receiving the book data from the providingserver to a book data receiver of the portable terminal; when sendingthe readout request, deducting an electronic worth from the electronicvalue stored in said storage unit of the portable terminal, according tothe component data requested to be read out in the sending, inincrements of an electronic worth of one component data unit anddecrypting, by the portable terminal, the component data in incrementsof one component data unit by use of said decryption key after thededuction of the electronic worth according to the component data.
 26. Acommunication terminal configured to be connected to a book distributionsystem, said communication terminal comprising: electronic value storingmeans for storing an electronic value on the communication terminal,said electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing aplurality of component data units, along with a decryption key saiddecryption key used in decryption of at least one of the plurality ofcomponent data units; electronic book request transmitting means fortransmitting an electronic book readout request to an electronic bookproviding server; book data receiving means for receiving the book datafrom the providing server; deducting means for deducting an electronicworth from the electronic value storing means of the communicationterminal, according to the component data requested to be read out bythe readout request, in increments of an electronic worth of onecomponent data unit from the electronic value; and component datadecrypting means for decrypting component data in increments of onecomponent data unit by use of said decryption key, wherein thedecrypting means decrypts said component data after the deduction of theelectronic worth by the deducting means.
 27. A circulating serverconfigured to communicate with a communication terminal and a bookdistribution system, said circulating server comprising: an electronicvalue storing means for storing an electronic value along with adecryption key, said electronic value and said decryption key to betransmitted to the terminal, wherein said electronic value and saiddecryption key are stored in an electronic value storing means of theterminal so that said terminal acquires with said electronic value atleast one of the component data units of book data from a providingserver; and an electronic value transmitting means for transmitting saidelectronic value and said decryption key to the communication terminalwherein the terminal is configured to decrypt said component data afterdeducting an electronic worth from the electronic value of theelectronic value storing means of the terminal, in accordance with thecomponent data indicated in a readout request by the terminal, saidelectronic worth associated with said component data unit.